Elder Evan & Elder Rex Make Travel Plans

First email from Singapore

Hi all,

Wow, so much has happened, and it's only been a few days - actually, if I'm not mistaken, it's been fewer days for me than it has for you, because I skipped a Wednesday in there somewhere.  Now I'm on the same day as you, but way ahead.  Weird.

Well, since I can't get all the details in, I'll do what I can to give you a general idea/feeling of how my experience has been so far.  I thought I was lost in traveling to/from all the different airports/planes a few days ago.  Well, that was a good way to ease into what I feel every day here in Singapore.  Elder Fletcher and I made it safely through SLC, LA, and Hong Kong to Singapore.  On the Singapore flight, I had to fill out an immigration form, stating why I wanted to live in Singapore.  I guess Singapore and Malaysia don't like missionaries very much, and sometimes they have problems passing through immigration security.  Elder Fletcher and I experienced no such problems, except that at the very last baggage check we had to explain to a guard that we were volunteers, and had come to give service.

Mmm. . . Breakfast: Nutella, bread and 100+ (carbonated vitamin water)

The first meal wasn't really worth taking a picture of - we ate Burger King on the go - and I have subsequently forgotten, or not had time to get my camera out for other food experiences.  Actually, you can see below the typical meal so far at my apartment: the Nutella sandwich and 100+.  Apart from this chocolaty bread and carbonated vitamin water, I've already eaten Chicken, lots of curry rice, boiled lettuce, frog legs, prawn, and some unknown meat which, although having the appearance of spicy chicken, turned to caramel popcorn in my mouth.  I'm still trying to figure that one out.  Anyway, I've not yet had anything I haven't liked.

To say that it rained buckets on my first night is an understatement.  I had not yet unpacked my umbrella, so I was utterly soaked when we went out to eat at a small streetside restaurant.  There was some of the loudest thunder I've ever heard, and it was an altogether thrilling experience.  I think this may be the norm, because it's rained every day since.  

I met with President and Sister Mains on Thursday, as I hope you could see from my first iPad email.  They are both so kind and concerned for the well-being of their missionaries, and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.  At their orientation meeting, Elder Fletcher was sent to Miri, an area in Malaysia, with an Elder Mitchell, who's been out 12 weeks.  I'm staying here in Singapore with Elder Black (ironically, Bai Zhanglao, which is phonetically correct, but means Elder White in Chinese.  I'm pretty sure his MTC teacher had a laugh when he named him that).  I'm in good hands; Elder Black is a fantastic missionary, and I have a lot to learn from him.  Where so many people speak English here, I'm glad that he chooses to work hard and speak Chinese all the time with me.  I'm so glad that I've been assigned to him, and I believe that this is the Lord's design, because I can already see that he can teach me so many important things in a way that I can respond well to.

I will admit, not every moment has been as fabulous as I feel right now.  The first day was especially taxing.  I was moved to and from so many buildings with a whole bunch of way-too-excited missionaries that I didn't know, and I was hot, soaked, hungry, tired, and lost.  I was most frustrated that my first impression of missionary work was a 33-hour day with really uncomfortable conditions and no concrete information.  To add to that, I had to pack, then repack several times, because I was informed (and I still can't discern what's really true here) that I can only live out of a single bag, weighing 30 kilos.  I really was pretty disheartened that night, and that was the first time I had felt homesick.  I think I'm over that feeling for now, and things have been ever so much better since I was introduced into my new, permanent (for this transfer) apartment.

Views from my apartment

Jungle or city?

Now, a little about the city:  going outdoors really is like walking down a sidewalk through the rain forest, hearing legitimate jungle wildlife noises all around, and getting passed at upwards of 30 mph by fancy cars.  Every public place (except a few restaurants and Indian markets) is modern, stylish and high-tech.  It's a little unsettling, still, to be at the entrance to one huge, fancy mega-mall, and peer through trees to see the one on the other side of the street.  To get there, we have to go underground, since there is no other way to cross the street in some places, so we'll take an escalator down to the MRT (mass rapid transit) station, cross over, and take another escalator back up.  The MRT is like a subway, but faster and cleaner.  I have a card that I scan to get on and off every time, which can be detected through the bulk of my wallet, and to which I can wirelessly add money whenever I need.  Each missionary companionship has a smart phone, which we use to call or SMS our members or investigators, or to read scriptures or study language, with the same Pleco app that Dad has probably deleted from his iPad.  When I try to talk to someone on the MRT, in an attempt to place a Book of Mormon, I have to interrupt whatever movie or game they're playing on their touchscreen device, and ask them to take out their headphones.  It's a totally different world from Cache Valley, yet not completely foreign, either.

The goal of President Mains, as inspired by the Lord, is to flood the mission with the Book of Mormon.  The standard of excellence here is to place 7 copies each week.  Elder Black and I have already placed 3, which I was pretty pleased with, but still isn't meeting our standard.  We'll have to pick up the pace, and I need to pray for guidance more.  Elder Fletcher and I began the work early, at the Los Angeles airport.  We met a Chinese couple and their friend.  She (Mrs. Woods) noticed our nametags and began to ask about us.  We explained a little before they had to hurry off.  To our surprise, we met them again, just after I phoned home, at Panda Express.  We invited them to come over and sit next to us, and we began to tell them about our purpose as missionaries.  Mrs. Woods seemed more interested in how we had become "so good" at Chinese in just 9 weeks, and wanted to know about where we studied.  Long story short, we eventually bore our testimonies that God had helped us, and that he could help them with whatever problems they were facing as well, and we gave them a Chinese Book of Mormon.  She asked us to write our email addresses in the front, which we did gladly.  I hope something good can come of this, even though I still don't know what to expect.

Well, I'm almost out of time, and I still need to send you pictures.  I'm going to bring this letter to an abrupt end.  I love you all, and pray for you!

Love, 

Brennan

P.S. Remind me if there's anything I forgot to tell you, which you want to know more about.  I'd be happy to let you know!

Elder Fletcher is the only one in the Hong Kong airport (almost)

Empty hallways in Hong Kong airport (5:45 a.m.)

 

Hong Kong airport a little later (there are a few people, now)

Singapore from the air

Our living room

Living room

Last MTC letter - General Conference thoughts

Sunday, Oct 6, 2013

Dear Family,

   If you’ve sent me an email recently, I still haven’t read it.  I’ve been especially tight-scheduled with General Conference these two days.  I’ll get back to you about anything you may have snet, but it may still be a little while.  (It’s probably more important to pack in order to arrive with all my things, and without a $200 overweight fee, than to write back right now about the slightly less urgent things I get in emails.)  One thing I will mention; I got Dad’s DearElder.  Thank you for sending that to me.  It’s good to hear from you and laugh as I read at night.  I liked hearing your thoughts about the poem; I thought of it when I heard Elder Uchtdorf speak at Priesthood session last night.  I thought the messages those two had in common were very good, and will probably help me change my view of “failure.”

Another thing I have learned from Conference so far:  Actually, I’ll just tell you what action I’ve been motivated to take by watching these conference addresses.  I have resolved to be a happy, outwardly cheerful missionary.  I want to make no one reluctant to converse with me or ask me a question because my countenance is gloomy or downcast.   I think of my favorite people to be around, and realize that they are always smiling, willing to talk, and uplifting in their words and tone of voice.  This is the kind of person I want to be as I greet people in Singapore and Malaysia, and for the rest of my life.

  I remember a few points from Dale Carnegie’s, How to Win Friends and Influence People, which I wish I could read again.  Even though I can’t read the book as a missionary, I would love it if you would send me the quote (from some other writer whose name I forget, not Carnegie) which contains at some point, “Whenever you go out of doors . . .” and ends with “we are gods in the chrysalis.”  I think it’s right at the end of one of the middle chapters – could anyone find time to send it to me?  Thanks!

Anyway, I was especially inspired by the following, likely misquoted, teachings from Conference:

-  It’s not where we have been, or where we are, but where we are willing to go.  – Edward Dube

-  Prioritize, simplify, take care of the things I already have.  Instead of asking the Lord to give me more, learn to do more with less.  – David A. Bednar

-  Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.  No one becomes a champion without effort, without discipline, and without making mistakes.  – Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

-  Believe in miracles – hope is never lost.  If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong.  You are infinitely more than your afflictions or limitations. – Jeffrey R. Holland

-  Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval.  One who faces his fears with dignity has courage.  – Dallin H. Oaks

And from my favorite talk by M. Russell Ballard:
-  It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best, when we are on the Lord’s errand.  There is no greater joy in life than being anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord.”

I found all of those things very encouraging, and I hope I can always remember to carry these things in my heart, and build my character upon them.  From Elder Ballard’s words, especially, I thought to ask these questions:

 Am I living up to my potential?

Am I filled with joy because of the work?

Moreover, am I filled with joy in order to do the work?

It has been my experience in the MTC, by my own choice, that every day is better than the last, and I find myself wondering each night how the day passed so quickly.  Although I’m sure that I will encounter great challenges in the field, I’m ready now to go out into the world and be diligent, bold, and joyous in doing the Lord’s work, taking with me the fire that has grown brighter within me in the last two months. 

Thank you again for all your love and your prayers, especially as I leave in 2 days. (Ahhh!)  I love you, too!

Love,
Brennan

Sister Mina Edwards (my cousin) will leave for the L'viv, Ukraine mission in a month

I pose awkwardly with Sister Missy Broadbent

I pose awkwardly with Zan Ferrin, BYU student and my room inspector

Elder Fletcher and Elder Murray sprain their ankles in the same basketball game.  Sad day!

Elder Fletcher has Halloween and Christmas today.

Elder Fletcher has approximately half-a-trillion pounds of candy.  (and this is just one drawer!)

Elder Evan & Elder Rex prepare themselves for General Conference (Celestial snacks included!)

Dear Family,

     Wow!  That you are able to fit the car in the garage is about the most exciting thing I've heard this week!  This week hasn't been boring or long or even stressful, but I'm just excited to hear about the garage and the grapes and the obnoxious apartment tenants.  I am really happy here, and I love learning and doing this work.  However, I'm still excited to hear everything you send me about the family and the Cache Valley happenings, even if I don't have time to write back about all the little things you send.  I still treasure them, so THANK YOU!

This is 5 minutes after Joseph arrived.  I was really happy!

     Oh, hey!  This week I met Joseph Stock, the other trumpet section leader and my awesome friend, duringhis approximately 10 minutes at the Main Campus.  I caught him just before he was bused over to the West Campus.  Wow, I think I can say that was a blessing for both of us.  Because of how short his window of time here was, and because of how much I'd been hoping to see him, I think the Lord was watching out for me.

Here's me....apparently eating my travel plans.  I was sooo excited!

     Holy cow!  I totally forgot (I don't know how!): I got travel plans this week! !  I also got my new name tags which are super cool and way exciting.  I feel just a little more official now.   Wah! (wow! in Chinese) I only have a week left in the MTC!!  Well, I will definitely enjoy it as much or more than I already have, before I go the way of Elder Fronk (who left this morning at 3:30 and is probably flying over the north pole right now.)

Elder Fronk and I on his last night, with hymn books

     Something I've learned this week that I think is great: have daily personal "devotional" with the Lord.  This is something that I have not thought about specifically, although I have been doing well in personal study, prayer and journal time.  In our fast Sunday Mission Conference, it was suggested that each of us needs a little time to really ponder - not reading, not writing, just thinking and inviting personal revelation.  I think it sounds like a great idea, and I want to try it out.  I'm getting better at managing my time, but there is still hardly time enough to fit in all the good things we're told to do each day.  I know it will be better out in the field, but I realize I still need to focus only on what is most basically important, narrowing down all the "good" things I want to do, until I am doing only the "best" things.

     I also loved Elder Bednar's address to the missionaries entitled "Doctrines, Principles, and Applications," given at the MTC in some previous year.  He asked the question, "In your life in the Church, which have you focused on more, Doctrines and Principles, or Applications?"  He spoke of the importance of "True doctrine, understood, chang[ing] behavior and attitudes."  He emphasized that the doctrine answers the "Why?"  the principle answers the "What?" and the application answers the "How?" questions.  He emphasized that no matter how much we focus on the applications, we will be doing no real, lasting good if we don't understand ("which is more than just mental comprehension") and love the doctrine.  Gimmicky applications, like baking a cake on the first day of the month for the home teachers to eat whenever they choose to show up, will not cause change or express love -- "Doctrine is always the answer."  We go home-teaching, not to report to the clerk, not because we've been told to and we're being obedient without understanding, but because we want to "be with, love, and strengthen the members." That is the doctrine; That is always the answer.  I thought about it for a while last night after I watched the address, and I believe that is something our family has done very well.  I am so grateful for parents who have taught me the doctrine behind so many aspects of living the gospel.  Thank you so much for your understanding of it, and your willingness to share it with your children because you love them!  I feel that what you have shared with me, at family scripture study, at family home evening, when I ask you questions, and by bearing your testimony through what you say every day, has blessed me more than I ever realized before.  I love you so much for it, and hope you will continue to strengthen the family by always living your testimonies, sharing them with each other, and focusing on the doctrine of Christ's gospel.

     Wow, I simply cannot express how much this has meant to me for 18 years, and how much I love each one of you in my family, but I hope a small part of it comes through!

     Thank you all for writing me, especially those to whom I don't have time to reply, like the Burton family, and Grandmas and Grandpas Baer and Jones. (It was wonderful to get your letters and package this week!)  I love all of you, I pray for you, and I thank you for your prayers and support!

Love,

Brennan

The Plan

Week 8?!

Hi Family, and other readers, if there are any,

Durtschi,

Dorothy,

All those friends,

Sun Bears, Mouse Deer, Malaysian bugs,

Wow, last week I said I couldn't picture anything but my family sitting around the house while Mom went crazy.  I hope that's not actually what's happening.  However, every time I hear from the family, it sounds like every day is just packed with good things.  I really do remember it being like that sometimes, or all the time, but that life seems so far away right now.  It hit me this morning that I'll begin my eighth week on Wednesday.  That is so strange!  I remember the family dropping me off, about a million years ago, and I remember what my life was like in high school about 2 weeks ago, and I can't even conjure up an image of Icon, and I swear the little date-indicator on my watch jumped straight from Aug 7 to Sept 23.  Time is weird.

Mom, I remember you asking me to write honestly about my experience, including the disappointments and hard times, because a mission isn't just rosy and happy and fun all the time.  Well, maybe that doesn't apply to the MTC, or something, because I am honestly super-fantastic, every day!  Actually, there was a 2 hour period right after a lesson with Winnie, one of our "investigators," sometime last week, where I was bummed.  Our message hadn't been received (actually hadn't been given) very well.  I felt like I wasn't focused enough on helping her, or that maybe I hadn't listened hard enough to the Spirit in our meeting, and Elder Fletcher and I weren't sure what to do next.  Our teacher evaluated with us a little later, I prayed with my companion, and we listened to a great lesson, and before it was lunchtime, I was looking forward anxiously to our next appointment, and was my normal, happy self again. Sometimes I surprise myself with how well things are going.  I talked with Steve Durtschi  last night, who asked me: "How have you been, all this time at the MTC?" I said "I love it!  Every day is better than the last!"  He said, "Well, I'm glad.  Not everyone has that experience."  I told him, "I'm making it my experience."

I really think that things are going well.  Now that I think about it, I recognize some things that, if I had blown them out of proportion in my mind, as did a couple of missionaries in my district, could have been grounds for discouragement or disappointment.  As I review my day, before I go to bed each night, I don't even think of events like that.  This doesn't sound very humble of me, but I really know I have a good attitude.  I look forward to challenges, because I want to learn and prepare for "real life" out in the mission.  When I have this attitude, and the Lord's help, I step over the challenge with more ease than I had imagined, and I'm almost above it before I realize it could have been hard.

Speaking of hard . . . right now, it's hard to know how to prepare for entering the field.  I (obviously) still don't know what to expect when I get to Singapore and Malaysia, but I talked to Mu Laoshi, who served in my mission.  He said that when he served, one year ago, most of the Mandarin missionaries were in Singapore or East, not West.  He told me about some very

 . . . interesting . . . things.  Two quotes: "I wanted to call Science and tell them, 'Have you seen this place? The mammals are all way too small and the bugs are way too big!'" And, when asked about his most strange, bizarre, embarrassing, or defining moment, "It's definitely the best mission in the world.  And if it's not, it's certainly, without any doubt, the most interesting.  My whole time in Malaysia was just one big, continuing  crazy experience.  Every day, I would say to myself, about something or other, 'what? . . . that is just not supposed to happen to a person.'"  

Can you find a picture of sun bears, mouse deer, and Malaysian grasshoppers for me?  I don't know if it will comfort me or make me want to come home, based on his description.

Mom's note: Here are some pictures.

Sun Bear

Mouse Deer - Singapore Zoo

Sun Bear's - long tongue!

Malaysian King Grashopper

 

 

My jewel of truth from the scriptures this week:  In my own strength, I realize I can do nothing, because, left to myself, I'm the natural man, who is an enemy to God.  However, when I live in such a way that I "turn outward in love, service, and compassion, rather than selfishly inward," I put off the natural man, which leaves room inside me for the Holy Ghost to take over and guide my thoughts and actions.  I realize, from Nephi, the Brother of Jared, and other examples, that it's really not me doing the hard work, but it's the Lord's power, through me, because I've let him in.  I've learned this lesson all week but especially from 2 Nephi 1:25-27; 1 Nephi 17.  I think I've previously mentioned Elder Bednar's address to missionaries a few Christmases ago, "The Character of Christ."  I would advise the family to find it and watch it together, if you can.  It's one of the most direct, powerful, and meaningful messages I've ever heard the prophets give.  I watched it again last night, instead of watching a new film, because I love it so much.  I picture that Mom would really love it a lot, too.  I hope you find it!

Mom's note:  Here's a link to Elder Bednar's talk,  "The Character of Christ."  It isn't available to the public in video or audio format. 

I'm really doing great, every day I learn so much, and I feel the Spirit all the time, because I listen.  It truly is good, and I pray that life at home is good, too.  But let me know either way!

Love,

Brennan

P.S.  Look up "Preparation with a Purpose: Life in a Mormon Missionary Training Center" on mormonnewsroom.org for a couple of familiar faces from Mountain Crest.  (Mom's note: watch the episode dated September 17, 2013)

I met Sisters Petersen, Bagley, and Fronk, all at the same time.

Elder Fletcher and I smell the Cream Soda Tree.

Elder Delicana poses with Elder Simmons and Elder Fletcher on his last day at the temple before he goes to his reassigned area in California.  (His district left for Taiwan about 2 weeks ago, so he's living with us now.  He's a hoot, and we all love him!)

Some poor pictures of a violent flash (2-3 minutes long) rain-hail-rain-wind-rain storm that tore through the MTC a few days ago.

 It was still sunny the whole time.  :{